You: Why is she pairing a cooking ingredient with a cosmetics ingredient?
LisaLise: Because these 2 work real well together in a hand and body cleansing kind of way.
You’ll need:
Thank me later.
Baby, it’s still cold outside. Worry not, however. This DIY recipe for Whipped Coffee Body Butter provides the ultimate in winter skin protection. It’s easy to make and contains two of my fave ingredients–tamanu oil and vanilla. Enjoy and try not to lick the bowl!
(via Soap Queen)
Ingredients
You can get the full tutorial for this recipe over at Soap Queen. However, if you’re looking for a staring point for your very own whipped body butter recipe, try these on for size (via Natural Beauty Workshop).
Warning: this will require you to stop and slow down for a small block of time, putting all distractions aside. Multi-tasking is not allowed.
Women have been bathing in milk for centuries. Not only did it keep their skin luxuriantly soft and supple, but it also gave them a soothing, albeit temporary, respite from chasing after babies, cooking and taking care of their men. And now, many many years later, you too can enjoy this treat and take a temporary vacay from chasing after babies, cooking, taking care of your man, and other household joys.
To completely milk (pun intended) this gem for all that it’s worth, you positively have to commit. This means no TV, texting, tweeting or any other such stimulants. A good book is allowed, as is soft music. For added measure, lock the bathroom door, or put up a “Do Not Disturb” sign. Now that you know the ground rules, here’s what you’ll need:
Mix all ingredients on medium heat in saucepan. Pour mixture into warm bathwater. I suggest soaking for at least 15 minutes, 30 tops, or the natural acid in the milk could irritate your skin. A quick rinse in the shower afterwards is also a good idea. Want to give your lovely countenance the same treatment? Try this Milk + Honey Facial as well and let the self-gratification begin!
Have you ever bathed in milk?
I don’t believe that lasting happiness is typically achieved through stuff like a job promotion, a new home or adopting a puppy, although there’s no doubt that such happenings deliver a jolt. According to the new documentary Happy, status (career, relationship status, income) only account for 10% of the differences in our levels of happiness. The film also says that 40% of potential happiness is unaccounted for, suggesting that there is a lot one can do to become a happier camper. Which leads me to ginger root.
Ginger is a magical, but not terribly attractive, root that’s used in a variety of culinary and medicinal preparations. On a whim I picked up a “hand” of ginger at the market. What’s the deal with this little guy? I excitedly hurried home where a quick Google search evolved into a full-blown project.
So what makes ginger so remarkable, and why should you (and I) keep some in your kitchen so that happiness is just at your fingertips?
Vanilla bean has been one of my fave beauty recipe ingredients ever since I first used it in this facial toner recipe. If you’ve ever been tempted to dab a little vanilla extract behind your ears and on your wrists, this recipe from Mountain Rose Herbs may be for you.
This body scrub is so easy to make and smells amazing. It leaves your skin feeling refreshed but not too minty as the soft vanilla bean aroma lightly perfumes your skin. Honey is a luxurious ingredient that helps moisturize, nourish, and protect the skin with its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and humectant properties.
Ingredients (click the links to shop ‘em)
Get the full tutorial at Mountain Rose Blog!
Are you a vanilla fan? Ever dabbed a little here and there?
Pineapples are a pain in the arse to cut, but if nothing, I’m a gal who takes her pleasure seriously. Pineapples are no exception. I got this at the farmers market, making sure the leaves were fresh and green with a firm body. I had visions of juicy, sour chunks tickled with my beloved tequila simple syrup.
I also imagined The Mister’s delight as he’d run his fingers along my soon-to-be smooth skin after using this body scrubber. Pineapple has a ton of bromelain, an enzyme with strong anti-inflammatory properties. Exfoliating with bromelain gently removes older skin cells to reveal younger, softer skin beneath. Here’s what I did:
Honey is one of my fave skin care ingredients, so I’m all over this. Design Sponge’s honey-sweet recipe is a remedy for neglected feet that have been shoved into flip-flops all summer. I love the idea of using a large metal wash basin. I could sit it on the back porch and soak my tired feet while swatting away the last of the summer mosquitoes. Great times.
Honey & Lemon Foot Soak
Ingredients
Get the full scoop on this beauty treat at Design Sponge!
So your legs are freshly shaved, and body is scrubbed and polished. You’re all set for a day at the beach, or a night out on the town. All you need is the finishing touch—just the right scent that whispers the essence of summer. This “floral aroma complemented by hints of spice and cedar” could be just what you need:
Ingredients (click the links to shop ‘em)
Drip all essential oils into a glass bottle, and roll between palms to evenly mix the oils. Add jojoba oil and roll again. Add additional essential oils if you desire a stronger perfume.
For more great summer-tastic beauty recipes from Mountain Rose, click here!
Have a wee-one, or just want to baby your own skin? Check out this Homemade Baby Powder recipe from our good friends at Mountain Rose Herbs.
Thankfully, making your own baby powder is cheap, easy, and allows total control over what ingredients go on baby’s precious skin. Most commercial baby powders contain talc which is potentially carcinogenic, as well as artificial perfumes that can bother a child’s sensitive respiratory system. Crafting your own customized powder only takes a few ingredients and can be put together in just minutes.
Ingredients (click the links to shop ‘em)
Smooth as beach glass is the mission, but first, the basics on making a scrub to slough the rough of winter away before donning the bikini this summer. Here is a simple recipe to take and make your own:
DIY Summer Scrub (via The Natural Beauty Workshop)
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It was only a matter of time before I used bourbon for something besides toasting the weekend. This gentle body scrub has become my fave indulgence. Although there is nary a whiff when the scrubbing is complete, the heady smell of bourbon while in the shower is nothing short of intoxicating. If I had to describe the smell of bourbon, I would simply say ‘seduction’. Not sex, but the winks and knowing glances leading up to the act. This scrub is quite literally Beauty Under the Influence. Continue Reading…
TMI alert: On the weekends, I take a break from deodorant. This hasn’t created much of a stink, pun intended, because I sweat the heaviest when I’m mentally stressed out. On the weekends, I’m a chilled-out little buddha, so all good. Wish I could say the same about the workweek. Anyhoo, I’ve been collecting DIY natural deodorant recipes with the hopes of keeping my pits fresh without a case of the itchies and irritation that commercial brands sometimes give me.
Below are a couple of very simple recipes from my good friends over at Mountain Rose Herbs.
Sweet Orange & Vetiver (click the links to shop the ingredients)
Cedarwood & Juniper (click the links to shop the ingredients)
